Weissport rocked this Labor Day weekend during the Weissport Redneck Festival.

There was a variety of live bands playing throughout the weekend, plenty of tasty road kill to eat, opportunity to go shopping for some pretty bangles and beads, and great entertainment as Weissport residents defended their titles in the many redneck contests.A bevy of pretty girls sporting Daisy Duke attire kept the crowd on their feet Saturday night as they cheered on their favorite beauty. Amanda Parisi of Weissport, last year's contest winner, almost pulled off winning the contest for the second year in a row. But even Amanda cheered as Rebecca Strohl of Lehighton was named the winner of this year's competition.One girl said she signed up to be Miss Daisy Duke because her anthropology instructor at college told her she needed to get out of her comfort zone. "This is pretty far out of my element," said Melanie Young of Northampton. Other contestants for Miss Daisy Duke were Jada Borger, Jennifer Hosier and Jacqueline McCartney.Proving that competing in the contest was very much in his element was Art Meckes of Lehighton, who captured this year's title as Mr. Redneck. Other contestants were Dick Gross, Richard Anthony and Ben Powell.When asked where he got his costume, Meckes seemed puzzled, "This is what I wear at home when I want to be comfortable," he said. "This is no costume."When it came time for the chariot (toilet) races, the boys from the Panther Valley beat out the Weissport contestants. Winning the chariot race was the team of George Tessitore of Lansford and Lee Thear of Nesquehoning. The boys kept the chariot moving and were quite agile around the hay bales. Other winners were, Jacob Algard and Shane Troutman taking second; and third place was Randy and Shawn Klingle.The big boys "One Ton team" from Alfie's Pizza were easily the winners of the Tug of War contest. They pulled down the boys from Gildner Concrete Contractors and the Weissport House with relative ease for the first place title.Also giving the crowd an opportunity to cheer were the lawn tractor races. Winner of the stock competition was Jeff Balliet and second place was Jim Zanders. Modified winners were Tom Paules of Bowmanstown, first place; and Jeff Rider who took second.Winner of the Deer Rack contest was Brian Heiland of Lehighton who proudly displayed his trophy deer rack which he said he shot the deer with a bow and arrow. The winner of the Dear Rack contest was Heather Green of Lehighton, who beat out 11 other girls.There were also a variety of other contests, including a karaoke contest, Zimmies Beans eating contest, ugliest pickup contest, junkman's contest and watermelon eating contests. Also Ralph and Nancy Amill renewed their wedding vows during a Redneck Wedding performed by Weissport Mayor Tina Hagenbuch.Playing live mountaineer and country music during the weekend were Banned from The Ranch, Scotty Marshall and the Mountaineer Souls and Twanged.Organizers are already planning next year's event for the Labor Day Weekend.Proceeds from the event benefit children's recreation programs in Weissport through Concerned Citizens of Weissport.